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Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667977 Vancouver Canucks

More wackiness for WHL Giants and grads; Connauton traded and then has place to stay dealt away, too

Steve Ewen

It’s been a strange season for the Vancouver Giants and many of their grads.

Sure, Brendan Gallagher is adapting to the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens and Milan Lucic and Evander Kane are once again key players with the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets, but things take a turn from there.

The current Giants finished last in the entire CHL. Grads Mark Fistric (Edmonton), Jon Blum (Nashville) and Tomas Vincour (Dallas) were all healthy scratches when coming through Vancouver with their NHL teams. And when the Vancouver Canucks dealt Kevin Connauton to Dallas as part of the Derek Roy swap on Tuesday, he became one of six former Giants traded as part of an NHL deal this season.

Connauton, a defenceman, had been with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, and was re-assigned to Dallas’ farm team in that league, the Texas Stars. One of the first people he contacted when he found out about the trade was former Giants winger Tomas Vincour, who had just been sent back to the Texas after a stint in Dallas.

The AHL Stars are based in Cedar Park, Texas, and Vincour had kept a place in nearby Austin and said that Connauton was welcome to stay with him.

Connauton relaxed. He hung up the phone. At least he had that. That would make things easier.

No sooner had that thought shot through his mind when the Twitter on his phone went off — Dallas had traded Vincour to the Colorado Avalanche.

The plans were quickly changed.

Connauton, 23, said that heard about the deal from Canucks’ vice-president of player of personnel Lorne Henning and admitted that he was “grateful,” that he was moved to a club where he might have a better opportunity. Connauton is a left-handed puck mover, and Vancouver is already locked in longer term to guys like that in Alexander Edler, 26, and Jason Garrison, 28.

“I really liked it there,” said Connauton on Wednesday. “I really wanted to be there.

“You can’t always be in the perfect situation.”

The Canucks drafted Connauton, an Edmonton native, in the third round in 2009 out of Western Michigan University. They suggested that he jump to the Giants the following season, figuring that a more pro-like schedule was what he needed to develop quicker. He was adept offensively immediately, and went on to score 24 goals, but he struggled defensively and showed that he had plenty to learn in his own end.

He did improve, and he maintains that he’s gotten even better defensively in his three years in the AHL. His numbers slipped this year (he had seven goals and a minus-12 rating in 60 games with Chicago this year after putting up 13 goals and a minus-three in 73 games with Chicago in 2011-12) but he attributed that to a “slow start.”

“I’ve taken a lot of heat and been pigeon-holed as a defensively liability, but I would have not been playing in the situations that I have been playing in — last minute of the period, penalty kill — if that was really the case,” he said. “I’m confident in where my game is going.”

Connauton did admit that being used as a forward for a time at Canuck training camp this year made him realize that he wasn’t likely in Vancouver’s long-term plans.

“Right then and there, it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t going to be around much longer,” he said.

Besides Connauton and Vincour, other former Giants to be traded this year include Fistric (Dallas to Edmonton), Spencer Machaeck (Winnipeg to Columbus), Matt Kassian (Minnesota to Ottawa) and Kale Kessy (Phoenix to Edmonton). As well, James Wright (Florida to Winnipeg) shifted teams on waivers.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667978 Vancouver Canucks

With Roy and Kesler in the middle, maybe Canucks can flip that playoff switch

April 3, 2013. 4:16 pm • Section: The White Towel

Ben Kuzma

First came The Coin. Now comes The Switch.

From deciding which goaltender to play to deciding what style of play would allow the injury-ravaged Vancouver Canucks to withstand their version of Survivor, the club can look at the newly-acquired Derek Roy and the newly-healed Ryan Kesler and look at the game differently. From passive to pushing the pace. From defence first to offence. To drawing penalties and actually converting those opportunities. Imagine that?

“For sure,” suggested winger Chris Higgins, who signed a four-year, $10 million extension Tuesday that has a partial no-movment clause. “Look at all the points Kes and Derek have put up in the past and that will help get our offence going. And that little breath of fresh air with Derek, it should be interesting to see how it develops. It’s a lot more fun when you’re scoring goals and we’re not used to putting up one or two a game and only coming out on top if our goalies play well.”

With Roy centring Higgins and Jannik Hansen at practice Wednesday and Kesler working between Mason Raymond and either Alex Burrows or Zack Kassian — when the former Selke Trophy winner returns for the stretch drive after fracturing his right foot and Raymond mends a shoulder strain — the Canucks believe they can contend in the wild west. Even without physical wingers Ryane Clowe and Raffi Torres, who they tried to land at the NHL trade deadline. And even with conference rivals adding to their arsenals with Jason Pominville going to Minnesota and Marian Gaborik to Columbus.

“Pominville was our captain in Buffalo and is a great leader and a good player with a good shot and Gaborik obviously has tremendous speed,” said the diminutive Roy, and unrestricted free agent who was acquired from Dallas on Tuesday for a second-round 2013 draft pick and minor-league defenceman Kevin Connauton. “They’re two good players and that might give them a resurgence.”

The Canucks hope they can say the same. In Roy, they get a small but quick and crafty playmaker who had four goals and 22 points in 30 games with the Stars this season. Although far removed from 32, 28 and 22-goal seasons with the Sabres, the 5-foot-8 centre has played in 41 playoff games and knows what awaits.

“It’s a grind and you have to stay even-keeled,” said the 29-year-old Ottawa native. “It’s mostly about how hard are you going to work at the system and how you’re going to listen to the coach. I just have to play my game. Set up plays and score, use my linemates, get to the net and do all the little things that win games.

“I played against Higgins a lot when he was in Montreal and he’s a good player who works hard, makes nice moves and finds his linemates. We’re going to have to talk a lot and keep a lot of communication lines open and know what we’re doing on the ice.”

Roy worked the second power-play unit Wednesday with Higgins and rookie Nicklas Jensen and anything to improve the 29th-ranked power play is a plus. Henrik Sedin was between Burrows and Hansen on the first unit with Daniel Sedin and Jason Garrison on the points.

“Derek is going to be a big help to us on the power play and five-on-five,” predicted Henrik. “Getting Kes back and with Derek, they’re point-a-game guys and it’s also going to put guys back into positions where they feel comfortable. We’ve played shorthanded most of the year and people don’t realize what we’ve been through. Through injuries we got worse.”

The Canucks now believe they’re better. How much better remains to be seen. They need Kesler’s two-way dominance and Kassian’s single focus after being recalled Wednesday from the Chicago Wolves in what the Canucks called more “seasoning”. They need more great goaltending and a better overall push. Roy is a step in the right direction, according to Higgins.

“Smart. Savvy,” he said. “He makes really good passes over the blueline and makes that pass when some players have to chip it in — he can make that and wins a lot of puck battles.”

Kesler is out of his protective boot and was doing off-ice drills Wednesday. He’s expected to skate soon and Raymond’s status is list as day-to-day. And if Kassian can develop more professionalism, who knows what may develop in this bunch?

“When we’re healthy we’re a good team,” said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. “Sometimes your personnel permits you to play one way or it permits you to play another way to win games.”

The improving roster is starting to dictate an up-tempo approach is on the horizon. And with the Edmonton Oilers here Thursday, maybe it’s time to mash that gas pedal and get off the brakes.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667979 Vancouver Canucks

A dash of salt, pepper and reality as Kassian recalled after “seasoning” stint

Ben Kuzma

A dash of this and a pinch of that.

Zack Kassian has been recalled by Vancouver Canucks after the young, impressionable and wayward winger was re-assigned to the Chicago Wolves on Sunday for what coach Alain Vigneault called “seasoning” after he missed eight of nine games with a back ailment. Well, it’s not Kassian’s game that needed work in the AHL, it was his approach to being a consummate professional on and off the ice in the Vancouver fishbowl. If the Canucks have to keep Kassian on a short leash to get the most out of a big, physical winger who could bring a playoff presence to the top-six mix, so be it. And if they have to give it a yank once in a while, all the better. Anything to get his complete attention.

With five goals in his first seven games on the top line, Kassian played with power, poise, feistiness and finish. He became a fan favourite and was the toast of the town. However, for a 22-year-old still learning the challenges of collecting a big cheque and unrelenting attention of the faithful, it can come with pitfalls. Everybody knows your name. Everybody knows your game. And it seems everybody has a camera phone where your image can change in one click.

“Definitely, especially in a market like this,” Kassian told The Province last week. “It’s not Buffalo. “There are a lot of people who are fans a lot of people who are always watching. You definitely want to be pro on and off the ice. We have an older team and everybody expects a lot from each other and guys are going to have your back. It’s kind of the way we work.

“I’m really focused in helping the team have a good stretch. I believe I’m a playoff player and I can show people what I can do. I’m really excited.”

So are the Canucks. If Kassian lines up with Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the postseason, Ryan Kesler could work between Mason Raymond and Alex Burrows. That would put Derek Roy between Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen. Ryane Clowe or Raffi Torres could have helped that mix and the Canucks tried to add a physical presence at the NHL trade deadline, but Kassian could provide that.

As long as his head is on straight and his game is ramped up.

OF NOTE — Winger Bill Sweatt has be re-assigned to the Wolves.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667980 Vancouver Canucks

Roberto Luongo would scrap his contract if he could

April 3, 2013. 12:55 pm • Section: The White Towel

Jason Botchford

Millions, who needs millions?

Turns out, Roberto Luongo doesn’t. At least not all of them.

Luongo said he would kill his $64 million contract if he could.

Today, anyway, the 12-year deal feels more anchor than financial security.

Dollar bills don’t buy happiness. Or playing time.

His contract may have looked like the best in hockey a few years ago. To Luongo now, it may as well be the worst.

The onerous contract was the big reason why the trade deadline came and went and Luongo is still a Canuck. And a backup at that.

“My contract sucks,” Luongo admitted. “That’s what the problem is. Unfortunately, it’s a big factor in trading me. And it’s why I’m still here.”

“It’s good for some things. But not so good for others. That’s a decision me and management made a few years ago when we signed it.

“We’re going to have to find a way to find a solution.”

“I’d scrap it if I could right now.”

Well, he can’t, meaning he has to embrace life for the rest of this year which he may spend, mostly, sitting on the bench playing behind Schneider.

A month ago, Luongo said: “If I really wanted to be traded that bad, I could have done other things, and I would have been gone a long time ago.”

Luongo was asked about that Wednesday.

“What I meant by that is if I took a different approach, from the end of last year to now as how I conduct myself, I think things would have been different,” he said.

Basically, if he was malcontent and was public about it, he’d be a starter somewhere right now.

“I’m not disappointed in the way I handled the situation. I tried to handle it the right way and not create any negative energy around the team.

“Whether that (impacted) the trade or not, I mean, I don’t regret the way I handled things.”

Luongo said he is focused on the rest of the year, and not thinking about what could happen in the summer when we get to do all this again.

In the offseason, Luongo thought there would be a bidding war for his services but it never materialized.

There was interest, but no one was ever willing to pay general manager Mike Gillis’s price.

“I wouldn’t call it frustrating,” Luongo said. “Honestly, it’s a hit on your pride that teams are not willing to give up much.

“It doesn’t mean it’s a knock on me, more my situation with my contract.

“It’s a tough spot to be in for myself, for the organization and for everyone involved.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667981 Vancouver Canucks

Gallagher: On dull NHL trade deadline day, fisticuffs tales from McSorley, May brighten things up

Jonathan McDonald

Province Sports columnist Tony Gallagher reports from Rogers Arena, where the Canucks are practising and team management continues to hunker down behind closed doors on trade deadline day …

With all the deals made in the last couple of days, you certainly could have predicted that both TV networks covering this trade deadline day the way they do would be in the situation of having so very little happen for so long.

They both seemed to know it was coming, as well, so both have had the cast of War and Peace on hand to kill time and tell stories, and both seemed to have had some good and bad sections, as well you might.

Grading them is about all that’s left for most people who might have been hoping for hard news and, if you were a Vancouver fan, only some of the material was ill-informed and generally outrageous, as opposed to most of it, given they are 2,500 miles away.

TSN was saved by Ray Ferraro, who is outstanding at what he does. But it’s a good thing they did have a fellow so familiar with the Canucks given how the “Reporters” seemed to have very little idea of the history of the Roberto Luongo saga. None seemed to be aware that Lui turned down one trade to Toronto back in June, and Bruce Arthur of the National Post kept focusing on Vancouver as a poor team right now when in fact they’ve been riddled with injuries. What matters is what they’ll be like when Ryan Kesler and Derek Roy get into the lineup. Like they generally do, TSN had the upper hand on calling the trades slightly ahead, but really that doesn’t matter to the enjoyment of the telecast. No matter who breaks it, the other has it an instant later.

Clearly the most amusing stories of the day were told by the Sportsnet tough guys, Brad May talking about his many fights with Kris Barch, and Marty McSorley going over his big fight with Wendel Clark during the 1993 playoffs, when the Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings played each other in the semifinals.

May and Barch clearly loved fighting each other. May related how he was older and would get tired a little earlier, and that during the fights Barch would encourage him, saying: “Come on, Brad, keep going, keep going. We want to be the top pair!” That of course was a reference to the long league tradition fighters aspired to of being the most watched fighting pair, as was the case for years with, for instance, Bob Probert and Tie Domi. May and Barch, of course, never got close to that status but it certainly didn’t stop them from trying; and the stories certainly generated some laughs.

McSorley and Clark went through their fight and talked about why it happened, the situation at the time and what both parties were trying to achieve; the big Kings defenceman ran over the Leafs’ Doug Gilmour, resulting in Clark challenging him.

All good stuff to people who remember those incidents, certainly as interesting as the movement of Scott Hannan again. Although, perhaps, younger people were left somewhat at a loss to figure out how the game was played in those days.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667982 Vancouver Canucks

Toilet Flushing: Luongo on the ice, and Nonis says nothing happening.

April 3, 2013. 11:08 am •

Jason Botchford

The possibility of a Luongo trade is getting flushed, if you are to believe Toronto GM Dave Nonis, anyway.

With an hour to go before the trade deadline, Nonis on TSN said:

“As it sits right now, I don’t see us doing anything.”

Of course, that could change late. But Roberto Luongo is on the ice skating in Rogers Arena this morning and the only other NHL goalie the Canucks have signed after the big two, is Joe Cannata who started the year in the ECHL.

And really, if the Leafs were honestly going to bring Miikka Kiprusoff in via trade, they’re backup plan can’t be Roberto Luongo.

You’d be hard pressed to find two paths more different than the Kiprusoff and Luongo paths. One, would be playing a year or two more. The other has nine years left on his contract.

Nonis suggested he’s willing to ride James Reimer into the playoffs.

“(Goaltending) is not a concern. We feel we have two NHL quality goaltenders,” Nonis said.

Too bad.

This has been going on for 11 months: Toronto, Vancouver, and Luongo

There’s a reason for it. It looked like it would have been an ideal place to be for Luongo, and the Canucks and the Leafs would both be better off for it.

As of now, it appears that will never happen.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667983 Vancouver Canucks

Cross Jokinen off Canucks list

April 3, 2013. 10:46 am •

Jason Botchford

Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero is being hailed for yet another move by acquiring Jussi Jokinen and getting the Carolina Hurricanes to eat some of his salary.

This is a player who is creative on the power play, can kill penalties and can win you some face-offs. Oh, and he has a rep for being a shootout savant.

And he’s 29 years old.

You think that could have helped the Canucks?

The Canucks management team have been open the past 24 hours, after acquiring Derek Roy, about an intriguing option they’d like to explore regarding the regularly hurt Ryan Kesler.

Vancouver GM Mike Gillis suggested a way the team could produce more offend would be pulling the trigger on an interesting option, moving Kesler to wing and playing him on a second line centred by Roy.

Just one problem.

Who centres your third line? Max Lapierre?

Definitely not the best option when you consider the team thought Samme Pahlsson last year was better.

Maybe the Canucks will have an answer for that. But they could have had Jokinen essentially for free if they claimed him off waivers, before the Penguins traded for him.

Jokinen is owed $3 million next year, which isn’t a wild amount, especially if you consider the Canucks believe a player like Chris Higgins could have commanded a $3.5 million a year salary on the open market.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667984 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Hat Trick: Raymond rumours, adios Kipper, get Zack back

April 3, 2013. 9:12 am

Ben Kuzma

Three things to ponder as we await the noon NHL trade deadline on the Left Coast:

1. DOES EVERYBODY LOVE RAYMOND?: We’re told that Mason Raymond suffered a shoulder strain Saturday in Edmonton. We know the speedy winger is a pending unrestricted free agent, who was taken to cut-down arbitration in the offseason by the Vancouver Canucks. The sobering $325,000 US pay cut put a chip on his shoulder to get a one-year deal for $2.275 million. And instead of sulking, Raymond found his stride, shot and confidence to such a degree that he is an attractive commodity.

Raymond is in line for a hefty pay raise next season. But where? You can argue that the best time to deal any player is when he has the most playing worth — and the Canucks could lose him for nothing in the offseason — and roster curiosity and a speed need are paramount now with Raymond. But any team acquiring the winger must be confident enough that drawing up a new deal would just be a formality and not a drawn-out process — even with the salary cap ceiling dropping to $64.3 million US next season. Raymond had been effective on a Canucks speed line with Jordan Schroeder and Jannik Hansen, but the acquisition of centre Derek Roy changes the dynamic. So does the postseason. And there’s the rub.

Raymond has but seven goals in 51 playoff games but is this his playoff breakout spring? You can also see him on a second line with Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows, while Zack Kassian skates with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. You can also see him somewhere else next season and hitting a home run in free agency. One thing we didn’t see is Raymond being moved at the trade deadline. Maybe he goes home to Calgary in the offseason and plays for the Flames. One thing is certain. He won’t take a pay cut.

2. ADIOS, KIPPER: With Miikka Kiprsuoff announcing today that he’s going to play out his existing contract with the Calgary Flames and probably retire at the end of the season, the goalposts in a possible Roberto Luongo trade have shifted once again. If the Toronto Maple Leafs are serious about acquiring a proven starter — they talked at length to Kiprusoff about the parameters of coming to the Maple Leafs as a UFA and also discussed a contract extension — then any talks before the deadline with the Vancouver Canucks will change. General manager Mike Gillis got his centre, but basically needs to replace the picks he coughed up because the deal cost him a second rounder and Kevin Connauton was a third-round pick. The Canucks could use size, they could use a depth defenceman with Keith Ballard out with a foot fracture and Kevin Bieksa playing through bothersome groin strains. Luongo has arrived for practice at Rogers Arena. In the end, the Canucks tried to move Luongo but couldn’t. They tried to land Ryane Clowe and Raffi Torres but couldn’t.

3. GET ZACK BACK: What can Zack Kassian learn in Chicago on his current “seasoning” stint in the AHL? Probably nothing. If the hulking winger has fallen out of favour with the Canucks for his lack of professionalism on and off the ice, deal with it and move on and get him out of there. The Canucks need Kassian in the postseason. They need him back on the top line with the Sedins where he scored five goals in his first seven games this season. They didn’t land Ryane Clowe or Raffi Torres, so the Kassian dynamic is a much bigger one now. Players will tell you it’s easier to play in the NHL than the AHL. You have to do your job and somebody else’s in the minors where there’s such a wide range of skill. In the NHL, you do your job and that’s where Kassian needs to hone his game before the playoffs. Do it in Vancouver. Not Chicago.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013

667985 Vancouver Canucks

Willes: Gillis’ price too high; will the Canucks end up paying for it?

By Ed Willes, The Province April 3, 2013